Card-file.



S. T. WALTON. 043D FILE. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 19, 1907- KENEWBD SEPT.19, 1908.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

V UNITED STATES PATENT o FIoE.

I SAMUEL T. WALTON, OF- BROOKLYN, YORK, ASSIGNOR. TO THE UNIT STEELCABINET COMPANY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CARD-FILE.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed. October 19, 1907, Serial No. 398,167. RenewedSeptember 19, 1908. Serial No. 453,826.

To all whom it may concern: I

life it known that I, SAMUEL T. WALTON, a cltizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented new -and useful Improvements in Card-Files, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to card files and particularly to means for'holding or securing the cards in the file drawer.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap and effectivecard-locking device which may be operated from the end of the drawer,and which, when released,

will permit of the withdrawal of any one, or

Figure l is a perspective view of my complete card file showing a cardin dotted lines; Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same, the looking barsbeing shown in section; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the parts in adifferent position; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 1 ofFig. 8; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved file is preferablyformed of a single piece of sheet metal 1 bent up at the ends as shown.To the inside ofeach of these ends near the bottom of the same 1' securea box orcasing, comprising the two side pieces 2 and 3, secured inposition by' means of screws 5, a top or cover 1, and a bottom 4 Withinthe box or casing thus formed I arrange a pair of helical springs 6, asclearly shown in Figs. .2 and 3.

Extending throughout the length of the drawer and having their endsprojecting into [the spring casings and bent outwardly as at 7, are apair of locking bars 7. These rest on the bottoms 4 of the. springcasings, and

are thus maintained a short distance above the bottom of the drawer. Thesprings 6 bear against the ends of these guide bars on opposite sidesthereof adjacent the bend and 1 ily of the drawerand adapted to slidewithin the grooves 8 formed in the bars 7 is a spreader 9 having a head10. This spreader tion with my invention are provided near their bottomedge with an elongated opening 13, and from this opening to the bottomof the card extends a comparatively narrow slot 14.

It will be observed that when the spreader is in the position shown inFig. 2, the looking bars are forced apart and practically fill theoblong opening in the cards, (see Fig. 1) thus preventing their removal.When, however, the spreader is wholly or partially withdrawn, thesprings 6 force the locking bars together as shown in Fig. 3, and thuspermit the slot 14, in the card to be slipped over the looking bars, andthe card withdrawn, as shown' in Fig. 5.

It will be noted that the bars 7 are somewhat fiexible and hence it ispossible to with. draw a number of cards from one end of the drawerwithout entirely removing the spreader. In other words, a number of thecards will remain locked in position, while others may be withdrawn.

The bars 7, it will be seen, move laterally with a strictly parallelmotion, and hence 3 the opening in the cards may, if rectangular.

It will. thus be observed that I have provided a very simple mechanismfor locking the cards in position, and one which is clearly preferableto any arrangement in which the cards have to be provided with desired,be

supplemental locking means such as lugs or tabs. It is therefore thoughtthat the numerous advantages of my invention will be readappreciatedbythose skilled in the art. hat I claim is: i 1. The combination with acard file, of a pair of parallel bars mounted'therein so as to becapable of movement toward and away from each other, and means adaptedto engage and move said bars at points throughout their length.

2. The combination with'a card file, of means for locking thecardstherein, such means comprising a pair of locking bars arranged to passthrough openings inthe cards, and a" spreader adapted to slide in meanscomprising a pair of paralled locking bars, and a spreader adapted toslide in between the same, said parts being so disposed that the cardsembrace both said bars and spreader.

4. The combination with a card file, of means for locking the cardstherein, such means comprising a pair of parallel, springpressed lockingbars, and a spreader adapted to slide between and engage said barsthroughout substantially their whole length, and thus force them apart.

The combination witha card file, of a pair of parallel bars mountedtherein so as to slide toward and away from each other, springs normallyurging said bars together, and a spreader adapted to be inserted betweensaid bars and force them apart, said bars being so formed as to engageand guide said spreader.

6. The combination with a card file, of a pair of parallel, flexible,bars mounted therein so as to slide toward and away from each other, andmeans adapted to engage and move said bars at points throughout theirlength. 5

7. The combination with a card file, of

means for locking the cards therein, such means comprising a pair ofparallel, flexible bars, adapted to engage the cards,springs urging saidbars together, and a member adapted to slide betweensaidbars throughouttheir length, and separate the same.

8. The combination with a card file, of a pair of locking bars extendinglongitudinally thereof and-mounted to move in the same plane, parallelto themselves, springs urging said bars together, and means for engagingsaid bars throughout their length, and forcing them apart.

9. The combination with a card file having mounted therein a pair ofparallel, laterally movable locking bars, springs for urging my hand inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL T. WYALTON.

NVitnesses: I

THEODORE KEMPENAAR, F. B. WILLIAMS

